Power plant



Sept. 5, 1939. J. RusE 2,171,994 POWER PLANT Filed Jan. '27{ 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORNEY J. RllsE POWER PLANT Sept. 5, 1939.

Filed Jan. 27, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheefl 2 A TTORNEY Sept. 5, 1939.

J. RllsE 2,171,994

POWER PLANT Filed Jan. 27, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gg M EMS:

NVENTOR B l 'u ATTORNEY J. RllsE POWER PLANT Sept. 5, 1939.

v5 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Jan. 27. 1957 6 M z W 7 3 s M w rh w /M s a .v a 3 3 a 4,3 u s M a f f am /z ou 6 M l 3 I. 3 Il. n n \I f Il; u Nl H Il o iw z .a 3 8 .w n Z w L o 8 N l n o ,l N 4, n 0 9 P. z M 6 .n 2 6 l 6 Z G 6 Z I Z 2 lh. w/F n 7 NI L L m/H .En Nl' nl im. Mm H ATTORNEY J.IQHSEI POWER PLANT Sept. 5, 1939.

5 SheetsSheet 5 Filed Jan. 27, 1957 [Nl/ENTOR A TTORNEY Patented sept. s, i939 ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John slmnyzw, ohio Application January 27. 1937, Serial No. 122,541

7 Claims. (Cl. 60497) 'I'he object of this invention is an improved power plant suitableffor driving well' drilling ma' chinery. Time .and expense necessary for erection in the field are the `two important factors l to be considered and both are greatly reduced. In' addition,l the trouble due to misalignment ls avoided by my construction.

The combination of independent power units a d jackshaft units with a bed structure defining ll y its assembly the position and orientation of 'each unit with reference to the other units is a`n essential feature of the invention.

'I'he means for adjusting and locking the power units upon their bed members are also important u in facilitating the assembly of the plant.

The arrangement of independent jackshafts in approximate axial alignment with an intermedi'- ate connecting shaft, which is supported at its ends by two iiexible universaljoints, is an im- 20 portantelement of my invention.

` Another feature is the provision of a spare engine which can be held in reserve or used as a substitute for or in combination with either or both of the other engines. l 26 Fig. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. v2fis a sectional view showing the construction of the intermediate shaft as indicated in Fig. 1 and its connection with the jackshafts. 30 t Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bed structure with one' power unit supporting frame in position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 3, showing a power unit in place.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4 and includes 85 the jackshaft. In order to show details of construction, a part of the bed member is broken away.y v

Fig. 6 shows a cross sectional elevation taken on plane 6-6 of Fig. 3. 40 Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical partial sectionon plane 1 1 of Fig. 5 through the power' unit supporting frame and its bed member.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modification of my invention in which the spare engine lis operatively 45 connected to an intermediate shaft in axial alignment with the jackshafts.

Fig. 9 is a plan Vview of another modification of y my invention in which the spare engin'i's operatively connected to an intermediate shaft in 'par- 60 allel-offset relation to the jackshafts.

Fig. 10 is an elevation showing the end.. view of Fig. 9.. l

Fig. 11 is a section through one of the sliding clutches of the intermediate vshaft of Fig. 8, taken 55 on plane II'-Il of Fig. 8, and shows a method of supporting the intermediate shaft upon the jackfshaft by a self aligning bearing.

Fig; 12 is a plan view of an assembled plant of, another modified form.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one of the units 6 with part of the bed structure and framework angles broken away. f4

Fig.- 14 is a plan view showing means for effecting transverse adjustment of a power unit on its bed structure. l0

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional elevation of Fig. 14, taken on vplane IS-QIS of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the bed structure with additional bracing members.

Fig.- 1'7 is a cross sectional elevation taken on 15 plane I'l-H of Fig. 16.

V'Fig. `1'8 isa sectional view of one of the intermediate shafts and its connection to the jackshafts.

In the figures: 20

In Fig. 1, the power unit 20 comprises a primemover 25, atransmission 26 which may have multiple forward speeds and a'reverse, a. cross Vshaft enclosed in a housing 21 and having keyed upon its outer end a driving pulley 28. The 25 power unit is mounted upon a supporting frame 29, the combination forming a unit capable of being dragged about. 'Ihis assemblage is termed the engine bed.`

.The spare power unit is preferably a dupli- 30 cate of unit 20.

The power unit 3| may be aduplicate of the other two; but, as its work is normally driving the pumps which do not require low speed or reverse drives, a one speed transmission 38 may 35 be used.l

The power unit 20 is operatively connected to the jackshaft 33 through a -belt mounted on the pu1ley 28 and on ajree pulley 34 connected to the shaft 33 by the dog clutch 35. iA, sprocket 36 is 40 keyedl to the shaft 33 and has driving connection with the sprocket 31 mounted on the hoist 38. Power is transmittdto the drill rig (not shown)` through driving means 39, which consists usually of a chain. 45

The power unit 30 is shown in Fig. 1 as being operatively connected to a jackshaft 42 through a free pulley 40 and a clutch 4I.

The power ,unit 3l issimilarly connected to the jackshaft 42 through a free pulley 43' and a dog 60 clutch 44.' 'I'he jackshaft 42 carries two free sprockets, one of them at the end, numbered' 45 and 46, which may be locked to the shaft by clutches 41 and 48. The sprocket 45 is operatively connected to the drive pump 49 and the 55 'means of a chain and sprocket.

Between the jackshafts 33 and 42 is an intermediate shaft assembly 5| which has a flexible driving connection (universal joints) with the jackshafts, capable of operating under a limited degree of misalignment.

Fig. 2 shows in section the construction indicated in Fig. 1. An externally toothedvmember 52 is keyed t'o the shaft 42 and a. similar member 53 is keyed to the shaft 33. The internally toothed member 54 engages the externally toothed member 52 with sufficientv looseness to allow the desired amount of axial divergence between the shafts, so as to form a universal joint. to the member 54 is a. stub shaft 55, shown turned down at the end to receive the bearings 56, 56. A sliding clutch member 51 has a splined engagement with the stub shaft 55 and is shifted by a collar 58 and by suitable levers (not shown) Jaws on the clutch 51 vengage jaws on a quill shaft 59 and an enlarged end 60 of a hollow shaft 6| is internally'toothed and engages the member 53 in a manner similar to that in which members 52 and 54 form a universal joint. Re taining rings 62, 62 are bolted to the internal toothed members 54 and 60 preventing undue end motion of these parts and providing a chamber for the lubricant. The quill shaft 59 and the hollow shaft 6| are preferably made separate and attached together b y flanges v63, 63' for ease in production and to allow of changing the length of the assembly.

The jackshafts 33 and 42 are carried by self aligning bearings 65, 65 on pedestals 66, 66. These pedestals are bolted to the bed angles 61, 61 and 68, 68 (see Fig. 1) so that each jackshaft assembly, with its bed structure, forms a unit and is therefore transportable as a unit and requires no alignment service within itself.

`In erecting a plant the two jackshaft units are brought into approximate axial alignment and connectingangles 69 and 10 are bolted in place, insuring correct spacing and satisfactory alignment. Bed members 1|, 1| for the power units are then bolted to the jackshaft bed members by corner angles 12 providing a track automatiing rings 62 are bolted on and the power plant is erected.

The connection of spare power unit 30 with the jackshaft 42 precludes its use to drive the hoist, draw works and drill rig at a variable speed while the pumps are being driven at a constant` speed. It cannot effectively substitute for power unit 20 while the pumps are running.

An arrangement in Fig. 8 is shown in which the spare power unit drives an intermediate shaft 82 through a free pulley 80 and 'a clutch 8|. The shaft 82 is connected to jackshafts 83 and 84 by clutches 85 and 86 and is mounted upon shafts 93 and 84 by a self aligning bearing at each end, as shown in Fig. l1.

An intermediate shaft 99 may also be disposed Keyed by clutches |46, |41.

in onset parallel relation to jackshafts |00 and |0I, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and operatively connected to the jackshaftsthrough sprockets and 9|, keyed to the intermediate shaft, and sprockets 92 and 93 mounted on the jackshafts and adapted to be connected therewith by clutches 94 and 95. The spare power unit may be connected to drive the intermediate shaft 99 through a pulley 99, which may bev connected to the jackshaft by means 'of the clutch 91.

With either of these constructions, the spare .power unit may take 'the place of either of the other power units, or may combine its power with either or both of the p ower units.v When joined with or substituting for power unit 20, it can use any speed or reverse, while unit 3| is free to drive the pump and when joined with or substituting for power unit 3|, unit 20 is left free to drive the drill rig at any speed or reverse. Spare unit 30 may also be held in reserve while the other two units work either singly or combined.

In Fig. 12 power' unit ||0 comprises a prime mover |I|, @transmission H2, which may have multiple forward speeds and a reverse, a cross shaft housing H3, a driving pulley ||4 and a jackshaft ||5 having a free pulley `||6, which may be connected to the shaft ||5 by a clutch ||1. These umts are mountedon 'a framework 8, making an assembly which may be transported as a unit. A sprocket |I9 is keyed upon the. shaft ||5 and has a driving connection withv the sprocket A|20 on the hoist |2|, to which the drilling rig may be connected.

The jackshaft ||5 ls journalled in self aligning bearings |22 in pillow blocks |23 (Fig. v18), which are adjustable, means |90 are provided Amounted upon the frame ||9 to enable the proper .belt tension to be readily obtained. The entire power unit is adjustable transversely and longitudinally upon bed members |24,l |24 by threaded rod |25 and wedges |26, |26 at each corner of the frame (Fig. 14). Threaded member |21 is secured to the end angle |50 by a single pivot bolt |29 (see Fig. v17), which provides sufcient play to permit adjustment for transverse alignment of the power unit.

The power unit |30 is a duplicate of unit H0, except that its jackshaft |3| is modified to connect with both intermediate shafts |32, |33.

The power unit |40 which drives pumps |4I, |42 is shown with the engine partly broken away to show the wedges used as a means of effecting and locking transverse adjustment of the power unit.v Its jackshaft |43 carries free sprockets |44, |45, which may be connected to the shaft Sprocket |44 has driving connection with the pump sprocket |48 and the Asprocket |45 has driving connection with the pump sprocket |49.

The bed structure, as shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 16, comprises power unit bed members |24, |24 held in parallel, spaced relation by end angles |50, |5| and cross braces |52, |53 (not shown in Fig. 1). The bed members and end angles are'bolted together through corner angles |60, |60 and with the braces |52, |53'make up a unitary structure which can be transported intact or disassembled. I f

The pumps |4I, |42, being on practically the same plane las the power units, may be mounted on bed members |56, |56 facilitating assembly. The hoist |2l is usually mounted on the drilling platform.

,One ofthe intermediate shafts |32 is shown in section in Fig. 18. Spiders |34 are keyed to jackshafts and |3| and to one end of shaft |32. To these spiders are bolted flexible discs |35 in a well known manner,'so that the parts |34, |35, |34 form a universal joint. The other end of the shaft |32 is reduced in diameter at |9| and is supported and turns freely in a bearing |92 in the spider |36, which is provided with the clutch jaws |31. A sliding jaw clutch |38 is splined upon the shaft |32 and shifted by the collar |39 through suitable levers (not shown). After disconnecting from the flexible discs, the spider |36 andthe jaw clutch |38 can be slid back upon the shaft |32 to provide clearance for assembling when the jackshafts ||5 and 3| are in place.

It is evident that this assembly will operate satisfactorily with a considerable degree of misalignment and a reasonable variation in spacing of the jackshafts.

In assembling the plant, the bed structure would be put in place, either as a unit or bolted together on the job, the power units would be slid onto their bed members and adjusted to bring the jackshafts into substantial axial alignment and the intermediate shafts put in place,

completing the assembly. If the pumps are provided with bed members |56 attached to the main bed structure, their addition to the assembly is equally rapid.

In this arrangement, power unit |30 may be used as a spare unit substituting for or combined with either or both the other units, or it may be held idle in reserve.

It is evident that this invention produces a power plant which can be rapidly assembled. Given a surface reasonably level, the component units can be assembled into place with military precision. Driving strains between the parts are self contained within the bed structure making expensive sub-foundations unnecessary. The jackshaft units each having only two self-aligning bearings will operate under any reasonable degree of distortion and the intermediate shaft can accommodate suicient misalignment to make the placing of the jackshaft units a matter of minutes. Correct spacing of the units is assured by the bed structure.

The plant is separable into easily transported units and can be quickly reassembled for operation.

The spare engine with its independent, selective clutch .controlled drive renders this power plant flexible, so that it is quickly adapted to perform any of the required operations.

What I claim is:

l. A power plant, a flexible foundation therefor, a pair of jackshafts mounted thereon and substantially in alignment with each other, a transmission shaft therebetween, a flexible driving connection keyed to one end of said shaft and a second flexible driving connection rotatably mounted on the other end'of said shaft and connected to one of the jackshafts, clutch means for coupling the transmission shaft to said jackshaft.

2. A power plant,A a jackshaft therefor, a bearing at each end thereof, a second power plant, a jackshaft therefor, a bearing at each end thereof, an intermediate propeller shaft connecting said jackshafts together through two' flexible joints at each end, which are supported by adjacent end bearings of said jackshafts, coupling and uncoupling means on said propeller shaft.

3. A power plant, a flexible foundation therefor, two jackshafts in approximate axial alignment mounted thereon, a transmission shaft therebetween, comprising a hollow shaft engaging with one of the jackshafts and supported thereby, a smaller shaft rotatively mounted within said hollow shaft and engaging with and supported by the other jackshaft, a dog clutch slidably mounted on said smaller shaft and adapted to engage 'with the end of the hollow shaft, for the purpose described.

4. In a power plant, as set forth in claim 3, in which the connections between the jackshafts and the transmission shaft .consist of universal `joints.

5. A portable power plant comprising a flexible foundation of structural steel sections, a plurality of prime movers mounted thereon, a plurality of jackshafts in operative relationship therewith also mounted thereon, transmission shafts connecting the jackshafts together and supported thereby.

6. A portable power plant comprising a flexible foundation therefor, two jackshafts axially aligned and mounted thereon, a transmission means therebetween consisting of a hollow tubular shaft enclosing another shaft, flexible driving connections to each of said jackshafts from one of said shafts, clutching means for connecting the tubular shaft with the shaft enclosed therein.

7. A portable power plant comprising a fiexible foundation therefor, two jackshafts axially aligned and mounted thereon, self aligning bearings therefor, a transmission meanstherebetween consisting of a hollow tubular shaft enclosing another shaft, flexible driving connections to each of said jackshafts from one of said shafts clutching means for connecting and disconnecting the tubular shaft with the shaft enclosed therein.

JOHN RIISE. 

